Corporatisation of agricultural marketing value chain would help lessen rural poverty by raising farm incomes. Important to get corporates to replace the existing bunch of middlemen who handle this. Corporates would bring in greater transparency in the procurement process, raise quality standards and would bear some of the price risk that is presently borne by the farmer.

2:57 pm November 15, 2010

Priyanka Baheti wrote:

I agree with all corporate involvements, government interventions, etc.. But all said and done.. I still think the biggest & most basic issue with our country is the reach of Quality & Affordable Education.. I believe that is one real real essential thing; & larger problem than that is to get faith generated on Education & Education system amongst the larger population..

3:17 pm November 15, 2010

Feroz wrote:

Just give the rural folks the basics of economic life - roads, electricity, phones and security - at a price, and leave them alone. They will take care of themselves. Also, allow farmers the freedom to sell their produce wherever they want to and to whomsoever they want to.

8:07 pm November 15, 2010

Ajay wrote:

Rural Indians already have their cell phones. Give them education over their phones. Give them healthcare over their phones. Give them jobs over their phones. Give them agricultural advice over the phone. Make the content relevant and interesting for them. And do it in small satchet sizes - so they can pay for it.

They will make themselves a new life, and providers will make a bunch of money....

8:23 pm November 15, 2010

Rahul Tripathi wrote:

Well I dont believe that tha present government is at all interested in improving the conditon of rural india specially farmers.What they are actually interested in is collection lacs of crores of rupees by means 3g spectrum allocation or Coal India IPO , I wonder where this money is going? Further there is to some extent fault of our media too. Whenever the new issues come into limelight like that of Adarsh Scam, Raja Case,CWG they fail to focus on dying farmers.So its upto decide what we need to do with thr problem of poverty.

8:23 pm November 15, 2010

VIjay Thomas wrote:

What I resent most is the snide arrogance of the reporter and perhaps participants. Note, the first sentence- One thing that is obvious to all is that FIXING - sorry, implementing - INDIA is a complex, uphill task.

Christian Europe exported it's excess population to the Americas, Australia, Asiatic Russia and Southern Africa, eliminating poverty. India does not have that advantage.

8:43 pm November 15, 2010

abdul wrote:

The figure for BPL.1.25 Dollars per day wages, is slightly above 42%,thanks,maybe, due to the looting of India by the British.While there is no abatement of poverty in India,the MM Singh's Government's policy of running the nation,as a Business instead of as a Family is the one thing that needs correction.
All the policies of MM Singh's Government are anti-India,in the guise of "reforms",as forces from outside India,DEMAND these from MM Singh.
Only a WEAK person or a traitor, will accede to coercion,and MM Singh is surely one.

9:05 pm November 15, 2010

afstrother@verizon.net wrote:

How about private companies doing infrastructure and food, clothing, various structural and infrastructural jobs and companies issuing stock, to these people and using them to work,build and feed themselves while having direct owner ship in these various enterprises. All with government approval and benign oversight.

12:29 am November 16, 2010

Reader wrote:

India is incredibly pathetic. They would rather spend billions on military equip to attack Pakistan than on its massive 800 million living in abject poverty. Care for the poor for once.

12:55 am November 16, 2010

Sj wrote:

Fix the US and don't lecture us on a broken society. Go and report from New Orleans and tell us how to fix India.

7:19 am November 16, 2010

AKS wrote:

This is a forum for constructive dialogue - not to bicker about what happened in the medieval ages in Europe or why the US should fix its broken system. Its always easy to deflect the focus on oneself by pointing fingers.
How about for once, we accept the situation at hand and try and help the cause rather than find fault with the journalist for his writing...
I commend those who have provided postive, constructive suggestions for improving our country.

11:04 am November 16, 2010

manoj wrote:

Yes, an incredibly complex problem. So why does the article writer expect quick fix and simple solutions. The government obviously needs to continue playing an important role. The pvt sector can give specialised inputs in a competitive environment. Otherwise, it will turn out to be another case of the pvt sector trying to exploit government largesse and concessions to make quick bucks.

3:54 am November 18, 2010

www.vari.co.in wrote:

Its pathetic to hear from people like you saying that it is fault of the govt , I would say it is fault of US .who are not interested in agriculture innovation.

We have developed a website http://www.vari.co.in where the farmer can sell his produce whenever he wants
, whomever he wants and whatever price as said by Mr Feroz

3:55 am November 22, 2010

Raj wrote:

It is not a big problem as it seems. Boils down to the problem of governance in individual states. A single chief minister can reverse the faith of a state in a positive direction irreversibly it seems. e.g. Bihar, was one of the most backward states in India, and Nitish Kumar changed it in one term. Most importantly he changed the cast politics to development politics (people vote for development), which is the key shift which starts and sustain growth in a democracy. Similar examples are there in other states too. "If it is possible in Bihar, it is possible in anywhere in India."

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